Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Benjamin R. Morin, SJ, who died at 3:30 p.m. (EDT) on April 23, 2015, at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich. He was 94 years old, a Jesuit for 68 years, and a priest for 58 years. May he rest in peace.

Ben was born on August 15, 1920, in Woonsocket, R.I. Army Lt. Morin served in the Philippines during World War II. He was captured with his unit in 1942 and was a prisoner of war until the Japanese surrendered in September 1945. He ascribed his vocation to the two priests he met as a POW. To read a Partner's magazine article about Ben's time as a POW, please click here. Please click here to read a detailed obituary recounting Fr. Ben's remarkable life, published April 29th, 2015, in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Ben entered the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1946, at Milford, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1956, at West Baden College in southern Indiana, and professed final vows on February 2, 1964. He transcribed to the Peru Province in 1985. As a Jesuit, Ben earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy and Licentiate Degrees in philosophy and theology from West Baden College. He also earned a master's degree in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago.

During his regency, Ben taught Latin at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (1951-1953). After finishing theology studies, he taught religion at Loyola Academy (1958-1960), before becoming a missionary to Peru. He began his time in Peru studying Spanish and teaching at the grade school of Parroquia del Sagrario, Tacna, Peru (1960-1961). Ben then spent 38 years performing pastoral ministry at: Parroquia del Sagrario, Tacna (1961-1963); Parroquia de Santa Fortunata, Tacna (1964-1965); La Compañía, Arequipa (1965-1988); and in Arequipa (1994-1999). He spent a few summers in Los Angeles doing pastoral ministry at Precious Blood Parish (1975); raising funds for the Archdiocese of Arequipa (1979); and participating in the Missionary Cooperative Plan (1981). Ben was also minister of La Compañía (1967-1970) and superior of Residencia Sagrado Corazón (1988-1994) in Arequipa. Since his return to the United States in 1999, he has performed community service at Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Mich.

MEMORIAL GIFTSMemorial gifts may be made to The Jesuits, 2050 N. Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614.
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April 24, 20158:18 PM

I met him in the late 1950's while he was in the last year of formation in Parma, Ohio. His story of what he went through was very spiritual. –
Art Dugan

April 27, 20157:44 AM

On behalf of the Morin family, we offer our condolences to all the staff and priests and Columbiere. We know you loved him too, and he felt loved by all of you. Thank you very much for taking such great care of him through the years!
- Marie Morin Shaw, niece of Fr. Ben –
Anonymous

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